Spiders! Eeeeeck! There’s Less to Fear than You Think

By Alan Caruba

“If there is one genus—arachnids—of insect pests that people fear, it is spiders,” says Leonard Douglen, Executive Director of the New Jersey Pest Management Association. “With the exception of the Brown Recluse spider and the Black Widow spider, most do not pose a biting problem.”

A quick way to know whether you are dealing with a spider or some other insect is to know something about them. All spiders have two body segments and eight legs. If your insect doesn’t have two body segments and eight legs, you don’t have a spider.

Spiders also have two short appendages, one on each side of their face, that are called “pedipalps” or simply “palps.” They are basically modified legs that aid them in food manipulation, mating, and sensing their environment. They do not count as legs, but you will probably notice them while counting the real legs, if you are inclined to do so. Spiders will occasionally lose legs in battle, during mating, or during molting.

“Unlike other insects famed for biting humans such as yellow jackets, mosquitoes, and bed bugs, spiders generally do not bite humans,” says Douglen. “Spiders have no interest in sucking our blood or deterring us from removing their nests. They only bite in defense and that only rarely occurs.”

“In fact, most spiders couldn’t bite people even if they wanted to,” says Douglen. Of approximately 3,000 different spiders in the U.S., only a small number have fangs that are long enough and strong enough to break skin.”

There are, however, four spiders that pose a threat of biting. They are Recluse spiders, Black Widow spiders, Hobo spiders, and the Yellow Sac spider.

In New Jersey there are a variety of spiders common to the state. They include the Daddy Long Legs, the Black and Yellow Garden Spiders, the American House spider, the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow spiders. People most often encounter spiders if they have gardens and, with the exception of the Black Widow they do not bite. In a home or an apartment, anyplace dark is a likely habitat for the latter two spiders.

“Venom from the Brown Recluse will cause local tissue damage,” said Douglen, “and symptoms of a bite can include burning, pain, itching, and redness at the site which can develop within hours or days of being bitten. Bites usually display a deep blue or purple area, surrounded by a whitish ring and a larger red outer ring. A bite can cause headaches, body aches, a rash, fever and nausea or vomiting.”

Treatment should include washing the area well with soap and water, applying a cold or ice pack wrapped in a cloth, and especially for children, the application of an antibiotic lotion or cream.

The symptoms of a bite from a Black Widow spider include immediate pain, burning, swelling and redness at the site. Usually the double fang marks are visible. After being bitten, the victim can experience cramping pain and muscle rigidity in the stomach, chest, shoulders and back, accompanied by headache, dizziness, sweating, salivation, and tearing of the eyes. “The Black Widow bite is a neurotoxin,” says Douglen. “People can experience weakness, tremors and even paralysis, especially in the legs.” Treatment is comparable to that of the Brown Recluse bite “and the victim is advised to seek immediate emergency care for further treatment, as one may require muscle relaxants, pain relievers, and other medications.”

“Studies have shown that about eighty percent of spider bite diagnoses are wrong,” says Douglen. “It is common to misdiagnose insect bites because at least thirty different medical conditions can cause skin lesions.”

“In New Jersey, the most common biting insect these days are Bed Bugs,” says Douglen. “A person with multiple bites has not been bitten by a spider because they only bite once.”

“Homeowners should get regular inspections to determine whether there are any one of a variety of insect pests present,” says Douglen, “and this is particularly important with regard to termite and Carpenter Ant infestations.”

My representative from Viking was caring, respectful to my husband and I as well as to our home. We had no second thoughts in signing a year contract with Viking and him.

Posted on: 2018-10-09 via ContactUs Reviews

Edward T.

FRANKLIN TWSP, NJ

I hired Viking Pest Control to eliminate a large yellow jacket infestation that was under the siding and in the wall of my tool shed. Dan came down the same day I contacted Viking and "dusted" all around the entrance holes in siding. He explained that if I still saw bees in 3 days to call Viking back. Three days later there were still some bees and Viking sent Travis down to re-dust. Both Dan and Travis did excellent jobs. Now, over a week later, there are no yellow jackets in site.

Posted on: 2018-10-07 via ContactUs Reviews

Mike P.

MILLSTONE TWP, NJ

Way better than terminex, guy knows his stuff got rid of house ants.

Posted on: 2018-10-06 via ContactUs Reviews

Glenn C.

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ

No more yellow jackets.

Posted on: 2018-10-01 via ContactUs Reviews

Pamela D.

FRANKLIN TWP, NJ

I was very happy with the service. Your technician was not only on time he was early which worked out so much better for me. He was both friendly professional. Even my dog liked him and she usually isn't happy about strangers. I will definitely use your company again for any extermination issues I might have.

Posted on: 2018-09-29 via ContactUs Reviews

Mark F.

BRICK, NJ

Very satisfied with service. Prompt response time and Curtis was exceptional!

Posted on: 2018-09-29 via ContactUs Reviews

Donovan H.

EAST STROUDSBURG, PA

It is 2 months into the contract and we are pleasantly pleased!

Posted on: 2018-09-29 via ContactUs Reviews

Anne Q.

FRANKLIN TWP, NJ

The company was great! He explained everything to us and was friendly; he made us feel confident in knowing that we would be ok and he would get rid of all the insects.

Posted on: 2018-09-29 via ContactUs Reviews

Swati P.

ISELIN, NJ

Excellent service. Thanks.

Posted on: 2018-09-28 via ContactUs Reviews

Tom & Bonnie K.

BETHLEHEM, PA

Love all the people who work for Viking. Everyone is friendly and easy to work with. They take care of all my issues with the critters I dont care for.

We are happy with the service, but the traps have not been effective so far. We shall see what happens in the next couple of weeks.

Posted on: 2018-09-22 via ContactUs Reviews

Emily S.

BLOOMSBURY BORO, NJ

John was great. He was able to come out to assess the situation within 3 hours of requesting service and he came back the next day to take care of the problem. He was very informative and kept us updated on everything. Overall, great experience. Thank you John!

Posted on: 2018-09-22 via ContactUs Reviews

James G.

BRIDGEWATER, NJ

I called Viking exterminators and they were at my house within an hour gentleman sprayed for bees and a day and a half two days later my bees were gone.

Posted on: 2018-09-21 via ContactUs Reviews

Cindy M.

WOODBINE, NJ

The technician was very mannerly and knowledgeable happy with results.

Posted on: 2018-09-19 via ContactUs Reviews

Jeff R.

SO BRUNSWICK, NJ

Excellent Service... Fixed my wasp problem immediately.

Posted on: 2018-09-17 via ContactUs Reviews

Jean R.

NEWARK, DE

Our service tech was spot on in rapidly identifying the source of a yellowjacket infestation making its way into our home. He provided great detail in what he was going to do to treat the situation, including providing us with the necessary precautions to make sure our pets were out of harms way while the treatment took hold. Great guy and great service - and no yellowjackets chasing us out of our living room. Will not hesitate to use Viking again (and very likely will in the near future given our home being surrounded by a bunch of fields)….

Posted on: 2018-09-15 via ContactUs Reviews

Paul M.

FRANKLIN TWP, NJ

Your technician Basil Burton did a 5-star job with great expertise, care and precision at our house and barn when he came this past week to rid us of many nasty insects. He took the time and did an excellent job.

Posted on: 2018-09-15 via ContactUs Reviews

Amy B.

DENVILLE, NJ

Friendly and professional. They take care of the problem and are very accommodating.

Posted on: 2018-09-13 via ContactUs Reviews

Regency Park Condo Association

RAMSEY, NJ

Responded very quickly and scheduled the appointment very next day. Exceptional service.